Amtrak Cross-Country Tours

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Much can be said about the pleasures of long-distance train travel. Passengers escape the trials of airport security or the worry of finding the next gas station and relax with views of the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and the desert southwest. Amtrak has an almost unlimited number of options for a traveler with a train station nearby. Set aside a couple of weeks to do a cross-country train tour right.

Amtrak Train Tour Packages

Amtrak has tour packages that include almost every station in its system. Short, three-day hops to major sightseeing attractions like Niagara Falls or big cities like New York give riders a taste of train travel, while long coast-to-coast routes immerse passengers in an unforgettable experience. The 14-day Grand Rail Experience begins and ends in Chicago, crossing the country twice. From the Windy City, passengers travel west to Seattle, south to Los Angeles and east to New Orleans before traveling north to Washington, D.C., and back to Chicago. The trip includes sightseeing and hotel accommodations.

National park lovers can ride coast to coast and back again on the Glacier National Park Express. The 14-day tour starts in New York City and stops in Chicago, Glacier National Park and Seattle for sightseeing before returning to New York.

Cross-Country Amtrak Routes

Four notable long-distance Amtrak routes cross the country, but if you live anywhere near an Amtrak station, you can create your own cross-country tour. The Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle follows the Lewis and Clark Trail through and around the northern Rocky Mountains. If you prefer a southern route, the Sunset Limited connects Los Angeles and New Orleans through the desert southwest. Two other routes connect Chicago with the West Coast. The California Zephyr climbs through the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas before arriving in San Francisco. If seeing the Grand Canyon is on your bucket list, take the Southwest Chief.

Add a leg from New York to the Empire Builder, the Southwest Chief or the California Zephyr in Chicago to create a cross-country trip. From New Orleans, you can connect with trains to Washington, D.C., and New York.

If you use a USA Rail Pass, you can create a trip that allows for overnight stays in towns along the route. Otherwise, consider paying extra to sleep in a roomette on long trips.

Amtrak Rail Passes

Amtrak fares fluctuate for a number of reasons: how far in advance you reserve your seat; the route or route segments you choose; fare sales; and discounts for seniors, kids and the military. One way to have some control over your fare is to purchase a USA Rail Pass. Available in increments of 15, 30 and 45 days, the pass allows you to pay a single fare for multiple trips on different trains without having to buy individual tickets. Passes are available online and at travel agents.

Read the fine print. Buy your USA Rail Pass and make your reservations at the same time to ensure that the cost of the pass doesn’t increase. The number of segments you can take on a pass is limited. USA Rail Passes aren’t valid on some trains.

Considerations for Long-Distance Train Travel

Coach and business-class seats are much roomier than those on airplanes, so you needn’t worry about being cramped if you choose to snooze in your reclining seat. For more privacy, reserve a roomette, a small cabin with seats that unfold into a bed. All meals are included if you have a sleeping car ticket.

Give Amtrak 72 hour notice of any special dietary needs you may have, and they’ll make sure suitable meals are available for you. Vegetarian options are available without advance notice.

Passengers are allowed two carry-on bags and four checked bags. Carry-ons and the first two of four checked bags are free of charge.

Many of Amtrak’s trains and 10 of its stations have Wi-Fi, but low bandwidth prevents streaming movies and music in most cases.

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About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.

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